With a final budget hearing scheduled Monday to consider cost of living adjustments for employees, Pope County is nearing the end of its budgeting process.

Most department heads have requested budgets for 2014 with little to no increase over 2013 numbers, Budget Committee chair Justice of the Peace Kim Virden said.

“The budget is pretty flat,” he said.

Revenue projections show little change from 2013. General Fund revenues for 2013, as of Nov. 13, were $8,519,346. The 2014 projected revenues are $8,592,712. The 2014 budget, however, also reflects a transfer of $1 million from the surplus investment fund, bringing the total projected revenue for the year to $9,592,712.

Prior to adjustments by the Budget Committee, total requested appropriations for the General Fund 2014 budget were $8,945,448.76.

At a final budget hearing on Monday, justices will consider whether to give county employees a three percent cost of living raise or a one-time salary payment.

Virden said as of the last budget hearing, justices were split on what action to take.

“We’re split, and whatever we do, we’ve got to stay there until we can get nine people to agree one way or another,” he said.

Some departments, such as the Pope County Library System and Office of Emergency Management, are funded outside of the General Fund and have monies available to offer raises to their employees, Virden said.

Other employees, such as many of those working in the courthouse, have salaries paid from the General Fund. Giving those employees a raise would mean using surplus investment funds.

Virden said the budget hearings are important because the court needs to be prepared to pass the county’s budget at its December meeting.

“We’ve got to be able to pass it, so we’ve got to hammer this out now,” he said.